Closing the Vatican Bank is a good step. Contrary to popular belief, the Vatican bank is a public bank criminals use, like the US stock market. It's the publicly accessible part of the Vatican finances.

Bertone is a very high ranking Cardinal. He was Pope material. I suspect this will pretty much doom his chances now. I also suspect Francis has made some powerful enemies now. This is getting VERY interesting.

I keep getting confused on that one. Or rather, I forget there's an Arizona Cardinals football team. I thought subby was being silly. Anyhow, the baseball team in Arizona is the Albequerque Isotoes, right?

Summercat:Anyone wanna take a guess at the time period before he starts further addressing the molestation stuff?

I'm still of the mindset that something like busting the priests/handing them over to the police would basically be a huge ass worldwide dragnet, which would require time, preparation and of course not tipping their hand early and letting them get away.

The 'He's not fixing it instantly because I'm a millennial and expect instant changes because I don't understand how the world works" crowd doesn't seem to grasp that a movement like that requires a lot of work and not press releases to keep us updated.

Speculative I know but it makes more sense than demanding the Vatican instantly punish/release names of all the priests accused. Damn reality keeps getting in the way of instant gratification.

Capo Del Bandito:Summercat: Anyone wanna take a guess at the time period before he starts further addressing the molestation stuff?

I'm still of the mindset that something like busting the priests/handing them over to the police would basically be a huge ass worldwide dragnet, which would require time, preparation and of course not tipping their hand early and letting them get away.

The 'He's not fixing it instantly because I'm a millennial and expect instant changes because I don't understand how the world works" crowd doesn't seem to grasp that a movement like that requires a lot of work and not press releases to keep us updated.

Speculative I know but it makes more sense than demanding the Vatican instantly punish/release names of all the priests accused. Damn reality keeps getting in the way of instant gratification.

Shush,clearly this pope is just a PR person and isn't REALLY trying to affect change. People who insist we're just seeing what we want to see have SAID so!

What happens when all the disillusioned Catholics are inspired by Francis to go back to church and the first sermon they hear focuses on a lack of money to fix this or that, to purchase blah blah blah. That might get real interesting.

maddogdelta:o, if he shuts down the bank, does the money evaporate? Or does it get moved to "non corrupt" banks that will be safe when the Vatican Bank's assets are frozen.

I get that he is taking dynamic action. Really trying to do something to stamp out any wiff of corruption.

Except when it comes to child abuse. Or any other one of hundreds of places the RCC can apply their power for the good of the planet.

Nope..Take care of the bank. THAT is the priority.

Read my previous post on this thread: You don't know if he's doing anything about the child abuse problem because something like that you wouldn't advertise it or release a press statement: imagine if they announce they're handing over info, or if they do and the police make their move on the few they *know* about, but then that leaves the others they're looking into/researching to get away, flee, destroy evidence, etc. You're not thinking of it like a criminal investigation, you're thinking of it as a simple problem that can be solved with handling of paperwork. It's a lot more complicated than that.

You can make assumptions as much as you want, but to claim that they 'are or are not' doing anything one way or the other is ignorant.

The bank, something with valid paper trailers, and he's had it audited by two independent sources, is a stationary business/thing. Not a person. When dealing with crimes of people you have to be a *bit* more inconspicuous.